Circulating and heating means for building



April 5, 1960 D. 1.. THOMPSON CIRCULATING AND HEATING MEANS FOR BUILDINGFiled March 51, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. DEAN L.THOMPSON April1960 D. L. THOMPSON 2,931,578

CIRCULATING AND HEATING MEANS FOR BUILDING Filed Marqh 31, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 HEATED AIR 9 1 E /l 75 I g 51 h i III 1 2 46 Z; i 43; J24 I /8 I ,2o 27 FIG. 5

57 INVENTOR.

DEAN L. THOMPSON FIG. 3 BY KW ATTORNEY United States Patent CIRCULATINGAND HEATING MEANS FOR BUILDING Dean L. Thompson, Wichita, Kans.

Application March 31, 1958, Serial No. 725,395.

4 Claims. (Cl. 237-1) This invention relates to buildings. In a morespecific aspect this invention relates'to dwelling houses and officebuildings and to the heating and air circulation thereof. in still amore specific aspect this invention relates to primary and storm windowsin and on' dwelling houses and ofiice buildings, and to adapting suchwindows to provide for'air circulation and solar heating of the housesand buildings, particularly double-hung primary windows which have alower portion 'which raises' and an upper portion which lowers. In yet amore specific aspectthis invention relates to auxiliary equipment andstructure mountable on a building adjacent a double-hung primary windowtherein, to provide with a usual storm or secondary window forcirculating air within a space within the building and heating the airwithin the building by utilization of solar heat when such is availablefrom rays of the sun.

Double-hung primary windows in dwelling houses and oflice buildings havebeen known fora long time and currently exist by the millions, suchprimary double-hung windows having an upper portion which lowers fromthe upper portion of the window casing mountingj'the upper sash, and alower sash portion which raises from the lower part of the window casingmounting the primary window. Also, it is known to provide suchdouble-hung primary windows with a so-called storm or secondary window,usually and commonly hingedly mounted at the top on the upper part ofthe window casing to swing outwardly therefrom when desired. Other kindsof secondary or storm windows are known in the art, and the greatportion of these can easily beadapted to swing outwardly from thebuildingand window casing upon .hingedly mounting same at thetop. Thesestorm Windows are utilized to provide a double seal against cold airfrom the outside entering the? building in undesired quantities, andtoprovide an insulatingdead air space between the storm window anddouble-hung primary window. 'They do not addto the heat in the building,

but do keep heat from escaping through thewindows. Throughout the year,and particularly in the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, whenthe sun is nearer the horizon, a great' deal of solar heat is availableif it can be recovered and used, that is, radiant heat. The

- new heating means of my invention for a building effechas an uppersash and pane which lowers from the top and a lower sash'and pane whichraises from the bottom, and a usual and common storm window hingedly auned o the ind w s s 9 t e b i g t, he

with a commonand usual double-hung window which Patented Apr. 5, 196i!to swing outwardly from the building, or a storm or secondary windowwhich is converted to do so.

The heating and ventilating means of my invention is for use on abuilding which has a window with an upper portion which lowers and alower portion which raises. The combination employs an outer window,preferably the so-called storm or secondary window which is hingedlymounted at its top on the building or window casing. Side members areconstructed and mounted on the building, usually the window casing, andthey fit between the building and the outer window, such outer windowprojecting outwardly and downwardly from the upper portion of theprimary window. A lower or bottom enclo sure member is mounted on thewindow casing or build- '-ing,-and this lower member fits between thebuilding and window when it is in a raised position, heats this air incontact with the heatabsorbing means which has been heated by raysof-the sun shining thereon, passes-the resulting heated air upwardlybetween the outer window and the prime window and backinto the buildingover "the top of the upper window portion of the primary window when itis in a lowered position.

It is an object of my invention to provide new heating and circulatingmeans for buildings, particularly dwelling houses and ofiice buildings.

It is another object of my invention to provide new means for recoveringand using solar heat to heat dwelling houses and ofiice buildings, orother types of. buildmas- Yet another object of my invention is toprovide new structural means to adapt a double-hung primary window andstorm window therewith for recovering and using solar heat.

Still another object of this invention is to provide new heating and aircirculating means for more economically and efiiciently heatingbuildings, particularly dwelling 'houses and ofiice buildings, suchheating and circulating means providing for circulating air within thebuilding to give an even heat condition as well as utilizing solar heatwithout any operating expense. p

' Other objects and advantages of the new air circulating "and heatingmeans for a building of my inventionwill become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of my disclosure. These drawingsdepict preferred specific embodiments of the new air circulating andheating means for a building of my invention, and it is to be understoodthat the drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred specific embodiment of thenew air circulating and heating means for a building of my invention,such being mounted and assembled in operating position on the building,and utilizing a common and usual storm window with a usual an commondouble-hung primary window.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the air circulating and heating means ofFig. 1 with the auxiliary side and bottom structure disengaged and thestorm window swung inwardly in or against the window casing.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional elevation view of theair circulating and heating means of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and2, and showing in '3 dotted lines the position ofthe bottom member whenswung downwardly and in against the building.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional plan view showing a portion of the windowcasing, a side member, and theouter storm window, and showing preferredmeans .to'enga'ge the 'storm window with the side members.

*Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinalcross sectionalelevation s a-m viewthrough ai-prcferred specific embodiment "of thenew air circulating andheating means of my invention "as adapted to a building 'havinga brickveneer structure .and a'double-hung window.

Fig.6 is a cross sectional .plan view showing aportion of the windowca'sing, brick veneer,'side member, and outer storm window of thepreferred specific embodiment of Fig. 5 and showing preferred means forengaging the side members 'and the storm window.

In Figs. 4 and dim dotted lines is shown the .position of the sidemembers when swung backwardly against the building or'window casing. 7

Following is a discussion and description of the new :heating and aircirculating 'means of my invention made with reference to the drawingswhereon the same refer ence numerals are used to indicate the same partsor structure. The discussion and description are of preferred specificembodiments of the new heating and air circulating means of myinventionzfor a building, and it is to be understood that suchdiscussion and description are not to unduly limit the scope ofmyinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, the preferred specific embodiment of thenew heating and air circulatingme'ans .of my invention is shown inrelation to a primary doublehung window mounted -in a building '8 in oneof the sides thereof. The double-hung window-has an upper s'ash I0 andpane 12 therein, and lower sash 14 and Ipane 16 therein. Thesash ismounted in a window casing having an upper portion 18, side portions 20,and a lower portion or sill 22. Likewise, lower sash 14 is mounted inthis window casing. Sash 1,0 lowers to provide for an opening betweenthe'upperpart of'the sash and portion 18 of the window casing, and lowersash 14'raises to provide an opening into the space within building8-between the lower portion of sash 14 and sill 22 of the window casing.Sashes 10 and 14 and window panes 1'2 and 16 therefore, respectively,and the'window casing having top 18, sides 20 and sill 22 are the'usualandcommon v'ariety'used extensivelythroug hout .the'world, andpreferably made of wood or. metal with transparentglass jpanes 12fand 16normally. The buildingiSshown inthe drawings Figs. 1thr'ough'4is'ofthe'commonwoodsiding "st'riicture. v

A common and usual stormiwindow 25"having an upper transparent pane27"and a lower transparent pane29, 'usually of gIaSS, is hingedlym'ountedby its'upper-rail 31 "hinges '33 to thetop .p'ortionofwindowcasing'lfl.

position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, or when wung-inwardly to "fit 'thewindow casing to "serve as "an ordinary *storm "window (Fig. 2). a

*A pair of side members 36-of preferably triangular shape (as shown) arehingedly mountedon side'p'ortions 20 of the window casingJsuch mountingbeing immirror image relation and so that the side members 36 canlieback against building 8 (Fig. 2), or so the'y canb proiected outwardlyfrom the bjuilding8"('Figs.1 and 2), to engage the side'rails 39 ofstorm window 25 to' position the storm window at an angle' withtheprimaryHvindow *a'ndbuilding 8, and so 'that' stormwindow 25*pr6jectsoutwardly and downwardly from the upper portion of-the primary windowand top 13011101118' of thewitidow ca'sirig. Side "members asprereraisiy 113116 511 inwardl turned-outer edge '40 which engagesclam'p 1 means 43 on the inner side'of rail'39ofstorm'window35,such='clamps when tightened over edge holding side'members 36 "andstorm window-'25 rigidly enga'gedin the position of Figs.land 3. T he side members 36 a're'suitably 'inountd hin'gedly on casing-20 portions,'--'suh as in the manner .shown inEig. 4 of the drawings.Side members 36 can be constructed of any suitable material and can beof glass or plastic to be transparent, if desired, particularly where itis desirable to utilize the suns rays in the morning and evening forheating purposes, as set forth hereinafter.

A lower or bottom member 46 is suitably hingedly mounted on window sill22 of the window casing, so that bottom member 46 can lie downagainst-building '8 (Figs. 2 and 3, dotted lines), and so that bottommember 36 can be projected outwardly to engage lower :rail 49 of stormwindow 25 when storm window 25 is swung outwardly (Figs. '1 and 3).Bottom member 46 preferably 'has an outer panel of a .sash 51 and pane53 which is hingedly mounted to portion 55 in any suitable manner. Thisparticular sectional structure construction of bottom member 46 has beenfound very advantageous in providing for efiicient recovery of solar'heat passing through transparentpane 53 of the panel radiantly. Aportion 55 of bottom member 46 is insulated by a suitable insulatingmaterial 57 between the preferably-metal upper plate 59 and lower plate61 of bottom member 46. Hook and eye means 63 are preferably employed'to rigidly join bottom member 46 to the bottom rail 49 of storm win--.dow 25. See Figs. -1 and 3 of .the drawings. When bottom member 46 ispivoted down against building 8, fior example .in the summer months,lfind it advantageous to pivot outersash portion 51 back up betweeninner portion 55 o flbottom member 46 and building '8. See Figs. -2 and'3 of the drawings. This has been 'found to protect window pane 53 frombreakage. A hook 65 attached to the outer edge of inner portion 55 ofbottom 46l'hooks in an eye .67 in building 8 when bottom member46 ispivoted back against building 8. A plurality of spaced and parallel heatabsorbing fins 69 are preferably rigidly secured to top' plate 59 ofinnerportion 55 of bottom 46. Thesef'fins 69 are preferably madeof metaland colored a dark color to absorb radiant heat from the suns.rayspassing through transparent panes 27, 29, and 53 of 'stormwin'dow25 and sash 51, respectively.

In Figs. 5 and '6, building 8 has a brick veneer 72 thereon. Bottom orlower'member 46 having heat absorbing means for solar heat thereon ismade in three "section, namely the outer sash 'and pane section (notshown) which engages" the storm window, and two substantiallyhorizontally'dispose'd sections 75 and 77 which "arepreferably"suitablyinsulatedwith insulation material 57. Se '.tions"l 5 and 77 aresuitably'hingedlyconnected .=.ing: sar'ne. #Likewise,;side members36(Fig. 6) are made -in '-sections,inamely an .outerportion 80 and aninner -port ion"82 which are hinged together. This provides ior turning'outer .portion 80 back against the face of brick veneer 72 when theassembly is in the position .ofFig. 2 of-the drawings. Again, thissectional construetion of side members 36 is necessitated by theadditional projection of building 8 .due to brick veneering same withbrick 72.

In'use,"the new heating'and air'circulatingmeans of my invention isshown in proper position in Figs. 1 and 3. 'With'rays from thes'unstriking heat absorbing means 69 "tol'reat 'samegcool air from thespaceor room within building "8 passes under-sash 14 of the primary windowamout into the space'between storm window 25'and the primary window, andfurther defined 'by side mem- -ber's-36 and bottom member 46. 'The-airin contact with h'eat absorbing rneansfili is heated. Upon beingheated,

this air'rises upwardly in the passageway created by the assembly, andthus between storm window 25 and the primary window, and ultimatelypasses back into the sp'ace or roonrwi thin building 8-over the topofupper sash of the primary window between same and portion 18 of thewindow casing. Thus, air within building 8 is heated, and the air withinthe building is constantly circulated to give even heat and to overcomestratifica- I tion of air within building 8.

The side members 36 and bottom members 46 and 51 and 53 can convenientlybe pivoted back against the building 8 during periods of non-use, forinstance in the summer months, or they can be removed from the buildingcompletely, if desired, with or without secondary and storm window 25.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications ofthe new heatingand circulating means for a building of my invention, canbe made, or followed, in the light of this disclosure and discussion,without departing from the spirit or the scope of the disclosure, orfrom the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Air circulating and heating means for a building having a primarywindow with an upper portion which lowers and a lower portion whichraises, comprising, in combination, a storm window having a lowertransparent portion. and hingedly mountable in its upper portion on saidbuilding to swing outwardly from said firstnamed window and constructedwhen swung inwardly to provide a secondary or storm window therefor,spaced side members hingedly mountable on said building and constructedto be'projectable outwardly therefrom when mounted to engage said stormwindow to positionsame at an angle with said primary window, means tohold said storm window and side members in engaged position, a bottommember hingedly mountable on said building and constructed to beprojectable outwardly therefrom to engage said side members in the lowerportion when said side members are mounted and swung outwardly from saidprimary window, means to hold said bottom member and side members inengaged position, and solar heat absorbing means on said bottom memberother than that inherent with window structures, said heating andcirculating means adapted when mounted to pass air from said buildingunder said lower window portion when in a raised position, heat said airwhen rays from the sun are directed on said heat absorbing means, passresulting heated air upwardly between said storm window and said primarywindow and over said upper window portion when in a lowered position andthus back into said building.

2. Air circulating and heating means for a building having a window withan upper portion which lowers and a lower portion which raises,comprising, in combination, an outer window having a lower transparentportion and mountable in its upper portion on said building to swingoutwardly therefrom, spaced side members mountable on said building tobe projectable outwardly therefrom to engage said outer window when sameis mounted and swung outwardly from said building, means to hold saidouter window and side members in engaged position, a bottom membermountable on said building and constructed to be projectable outwardlytherefrom to engage said side members when same are mounted and swungoutwardly from said building, means to hold said bottom member and sidemembers in engaged position, and solar heat absorbing means with saidbottom member other than that inherent with window structures, saidheating and circulating means adapted when mounted to pass air from saidbuilding under said lower window portion, heat said air when rays fromthe sun are directed on said heat absorbing means, pass resulting heatedair upwardly between said outer window and said first-named window andover said upper window portion when in a lowered position and thus backinto said building.

3. Air circulating and heating means for a building having a window withan upper portion which lowers and a lower which raises, comprising, incombination, an outer window mountable on said building, side membersconstructed and mountable on said building to fit between said buildingand said outer window when said outer window is mounted projectingoutwardly and downwardly from the upper portion of said first-namedwindow, a lower member having solar heat absorbing means other than thatinherent with window structures and mountable on said building andconstructed to close the space between said building, side members andsaid outer window in their lower portions, when such are mounted andprojecting said heating and circulating means adapted when mounted topass air from said building under said lower window portion when in araised position, heat said air when rays from the sun are directed onsaid heat absorbing means, pass resulting heated air upwardly betweensaid outer window and said first-named window and into said buildingover the upper portion of said upper window portion when in loweredposition.

4. Air circulating and heating means for a building having a windowcasing and therein a double-hung primary window with an upper sash andpane which lowers and a lower sash and pane which raises comprising incombination, a transparent storm window hingedly mountable in its upperportion on the outer upper portion of said window casing to swingoutwardly therefrom and constructed to fit said window casing when swunginwardly to serve as a usual secondary or storm window, a pair oftriangular-shaped and imperforate side members hingedly mountable inmirror image relation on the outer portions of the sides of said windowcasing to lie back against said building and to be projectable outwardlytherefrom to engage said storm window along its sides when mounted andswung outwardly to position said storm window at an angle with saidprimary window, means to hold said storm window and side members inengaged position, an imperforate bottom member having outer plates andinsulation therebetween and hingedly mountable on the outer portion ofthe bottom of said window casing to lie down against said building andto be pro jectable outwardly therefrom to engage said side members whenmounted and swung outwardly, a sash and pane hingedly connected to saidbottom member and engageable with the bottom of said storm window whenmounted and swung outwardly, means to hold said bottom member and sidemembers in engaged position, means to hold said last-named sash and panein engaged position with said storm window, and a plurality of spacedand parallel metal solar heat absorbing members mounted on the upperplate of said bottom member and projecting therefrom, said heating andcirculating means adapted when mounted to pass air from said buildingunder said first-named lower sash and pane when in a raised position,heat said air when rays from the sun are directed on said heat absorbingmembers, pass resulting heated air upwardly between said storm windowand said primary window and over said upper sash and pane when in alowered position and thus back into said building.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

